Snorkel breathing tube regulator

ABSTRACT

A snorkel breathing tube regulator includes: a tubular hollow base and a supplementary tube which jointly form an inverted U-shaped structure, and a float provided in the supplementary tube. During snorkeling, the float is buoyed upward as the water surface rises in relation to the snorkel breathing tube regulator. If the water surface continues to rise in this way, the float will eventually form a seal that prevents water from entering the base. On the other hand, when the water surface falls in relation to the snorkel breathing tube regulator, the float falls along to allow smooth ventilation. Thus, ventilation is regulated with enhanced sensitivity, and splashing water is also prevented from entering the base. Furthermore, the snorkel breathing tube regulator can be easily produced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a snorkel breathing tube regulator and,more particularly, to a ventilation regulating structure configured forallowing and stopping air intake through a snorkel breathing tube andpreventing water from flowing into the snorkel breathing tube.

2. Description of Related Art

Snorkeling is a pleasant activity, especially when practiced at goodsnorkeling spots where the beautiful sea world provides snorkelers witha fun and entrancing underwater swimming experience. However, due to thecapricious weather conditions on the sea and the ever-changing seascape,it is very likely that snorkelers may put themselves in danger withoutknowing it.

One of the most frequent inconveniences in snorkeling is to have watercoming into the breathing tube. This may happen when the snorkeler is soengrossed that he or she swims obliviously with the marine creaturesinto excessive depths, or when tidal waves or the activities of nearbyvessels or snorkelers cause water to splash into the top end opening ofthe breathing tube that is exposed above the water surface. Once waterenters the breathing tube, a novice tends to panic and hence invitesdanger; however, even an experienced snorkeler cannot expel the watertrapped in the breathing tube without using some sophisticatedtechniques that may not be easy for everyone to perform, such as raisingthe head up high upon surfacing, ejecting the mouthpiece of thebreathing tube from the mouth, and then breathing with the mouth open.Therefore, it is necessary to design a snorkel breathing tube regulatorthat promotes the safety in snorkeling.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional snorkel breathing tube regulator whichincludes a hollow tubular base 60. The base 60 has a lower end fittedwith a breathing tube 50 and an upper end formed as an opening 61 to beexposed above the water surface WL. In order to prevent water fromentering the opening 61, the opening 61 of the base 60 is inclined, anda float 70 is connected below the opening 61 by a linkage 90, while aplug cover 80 is pivotally provided above the float 70. When thesnorkeler swims downward, the water surface WL moves toward the upperend of the base 60 and pushes the float 70 upward. Consequently, theplug cover 80 above the float 70 seals the opening 61 and therebyprevents water entry.

However, as it is difficult to control the tightness between the opening61 and the plug cover 80, the aforesaid design is disadvantaged by poorwatertightness. Moreover, as the float 70 is pushed via the linkage 90and then indirectly pushes the plug cover 80 to seal the opening 61 atthe upper end of the base 60, a large positional error tends to exist atthe sealing position.

In addition, water splashing above the water surface WL that does notpush the float 70 upward is incapable of driving the plug cover 80 toshut the opening 61 at the upper end of the base 60. As a result,splashed water may still enter the opening 61 and flow into thebreathing tube 50. This is yet another drawback of the prior art.

Furthermore, the linkage 90, the float 70, and the plug cover 80 requirea complicated assembly process, which not only incurs high costs but mayalso compromise quality. This is still another drawback of the priorart.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a snorkelbreathing tube regulator which is highly sensitive in regulatingventilation and capable of preventing the entry of splashed water,wherein the snorkel breathing tube regulator includes: a tubular hollowbase and a supplementary tube that jointly form an inverted U-shapedstructure; and a float provided in the supplementary tube. When thewater surface rises in relation to the snorkel breathing tube regulatorduring snorkeling, the water surface pushes the float upward to form aseal that prevents water ingress. Thus, a water stopping function isprovided to increase the safety in snorkeling. Meanwhile, the snorkelbreathing tube regulator has lower production costs than the prior art.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides asnorkel breathing tube regulator including a tubular hollow base, asupplementary tube, and a float. The base has an end formed with aninsertion hole and an opposite end formed with a bent portion, whereinthe bent portion has a downwardly facing opening that forms a ventinghole. The supplementary tube is fitted below the venting hole at alateral side of the base. Moreover, the supplementary tube has an endconnected to the venting hole and provided with a watertight packing.The supplementary tube further has an opposite end formed with anopening that converges toward a lower side of the base. The float ismovably retained in the supplementary tube, so as to stop water or allowventilation when the water surface rises or falls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives,and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to thefollowing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snorkel breathing tube regulatoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the snorkel breathing tube regulatoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows application of the snorkel breathing tube regulatoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows further application of the snorkel breathing tube regulatoraccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a conventional snorkel breathing tube regulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a snorkel breathing tube regulatoraccording to the present invention essentially includes a tubular hollowbase 10, a supplementary tube 20, and a float 30.

The base 10 has an end formed with an insertion hole 100 and externallyprovided with a tenon 12 configured for engaging with a correspondingbreathing tube 50. The base 10 further has an opposite end formed with abent portion 11. The bent portion 11 has an opening which facesgenerally downward and forms a venting hole 110.

The supplementary tube 20 is fitted below the venting hole 110 at alateral side of the base 10. The supplementary tube 20 has an endconnected to the venting hole 110, provided with an engaging portion 23,and mounted with a watertight packing 40. The supplementary tube 20 hasan opposite end formed with a downwardly extending and inclined surface21 and an opening 22 that converges slightly toward a lower side of thebase 10.

The float 30 is provided inside the supplementary tube 20 and movablyrestricted between the engaging portion 23 and the inclined surface 21.

To use the snorkel breathing tube regulator of the present invention,the end of the base 10 that is formed with the insertion hole 100 isinserted into the breathing tube 50, such that the tenon 12 of the base10 is inserted in and engaged with a corresponding fastening hole 51 ofthe breathing tube 50. Then, referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, when asnorkeler using the snorkel breathing tube regulator of the presentinvention submerges below the water surface WL, and the water surface WLhas yet to reach the supplementary tube 20, the float 30 stays at alower position in the supplementary tube 20. However, when the snorkelersubmerges deeper into the water such that the water surface WL rises tothe supplementary tube 20, the float 30 is pushed upward by the buoyancyof water. Before the water has a chance to enter the base 10, the float30 is pressed against the watertight packing 40 from below, thuspreventing the water from entering the base 10. In consequence, theinterior of the base 10 remains ultra dry, and safe snorkeling can beachieved.

When current molding techniques are improved, the base 10 and thesupplementary tube 20 of the present invention can be injection moldedas one piece. As long as the features of the present invention arepreserved, the same effects can be achieved.

Hence, implementation of the present invention at least involves thefollowing inventive steps:

-   -   1. With the float 30 serving as the means for preventing water        from flowing into the base 10, watertightness is enhanced,        ventilation is regulated (i.e., enabled or shut off) with        increased sensitivity, and related costs are reduced. These are        the major advantages of the present invention.    -   2. With the base 10 and the supplementary tube 20 jointly        forming a bent tubular structure, splashed water is prevented        from entering from above. Thus, the snorkel breathing tube        regulator provides increased safety in snorkeling. This is        another advantage of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described via the preferredembodiment, it is understood that the foregoing embodiment is notintended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.Therefore, all equivalent or easily conceivable changes or modificationmade to the disclosed embodiment by a person skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention, such as the additionof other fittings or minor changes in the materials used, should fallwithin the scope of the present invention, which is defined only by theappended claims.

According to the above description, and given the fact that the contentsdisclosed herein have never been made public prior to this application,the present invention meets the requirements of novelty, utility, andindustrial applicability for patent application. Hence, an applicationfor patent of the present invention is hereby filed for examination.

1. A snorkel breathing tube regulator, comprising: a tubular hollow basehaving an end formed with an insertion hole and an opposite end formedwith a bent portion, wherein the bent portion has an opening that facesdownward and forms a venting hole; a supplementary tube fitted below theventing hole at a lateral side of the base, wherein the supplementarytube has an end connected to the venting hole and provided with awatertight packing and an opposite end having an opening that convergestoward a lower side of the base; and a float movably retained in thesupplementary tube.
 2. The snorkel breathing tube regulator of claim 1,wherein the end of the base that is formed with the insertion hole isprovided with a tenon.
 3. The snorkel breathing tube regulator of claim1, wherein the end of the supplementary tube that is connected to theventing hole is provided with an engaging portion, and the opposite endof the supplementary tube is formed with an inclined surface, such thatthe float is retained between the engaging portion and the inclinedsurface.
 4. The snorkel breathing tube regulator of claim 1, wherein thebase and the supplementary tube are integrally formed.